Teen burglary suspect arrested after stakeout in southern Columbia

COLUMBIA — Police arrested a 15-year old male Thursday morning after a burglary on Old Plank Road in southern Columbia.

Patrol conducted a stakeout after the area’s beat officer identified a trend in the time and method of entry in the approximately 15 burglaries that occurred in the area between June 13 and July 3, according to a news release from the Columbia Police Department. Lt. Dianne Bernhard said six or seven officers pursued the suspect on foot leading up to the arrest.

Most of the burglaries committed in the area happened between 8 a.m. and noon, and most entrances were made through unlocked doors or broken windows, Bernhard said. Although the investigation is ongoing, police have reason to believe the suspect arrested today was responsible for the previous burglaries in the area, she said.

The beat officer identified the juvenile on Wednesday as one who had previously been referred to juvenile authorities for multiple offenses. The juvenile was also carrying a backpack containing stolen property linking him to the previous burglaries in the area, according to the news release. He had been turned over to juvenile authorities, the release stated.

Bernhard said police will no longer be monitoring the area but will respond as they are called. They have no reason to believe the suspect was acting with anyone else, she said.